In 2022, an estimated 691 to 783 million individuals worldwide experienced hunger. The majority of those facing hunger resided in Asia (55%) and Africa (38%). Among children under the age of 5, 22.3% (148.1 million) suffered from stunted growth, 6.8% (45 million) were wasted, and 5.6% (37 million) were overweight. Alarmingly, approximately 75% of children under 5 affected by stunting lived in countries experiencing conflict. The situation is equally dire for adolescent girls and women, with over one billion experiencing undernutrition, which includes being underweight and having short stature, deficiencies in essential micronutrients, and anaemia. These conditions have devastating consequences for their lives and well-being. Most recently, deteriorating food security has been seen in Sudan where 18 million people face acute hunger while famine looms in Gaza.

Global hunger is reaching new heights as the global food crisis – driven by fragile food systems, climate change, conflict, economic downturns, inequality, high food prices and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – reverses decades of progress. Among those most affected are children who, in critical stages of growth, are being deprived of what they need most: a safe and healthy future on a livable planet. The next generation is being born into a cycle of malnutrition.

At the same time, smallholder farmers face compounding challenges. An El Niño-triggered drought has forced Malawi to declare a state of disaster as severe crop damage impacts 2 million farming households and leaves 20 million people in need of food assistance. The world over, smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of our food systems and the climate crisis and yet receive less than 2% of climate finance, are overlooked in global fora and face barriers to accessing markets and agriculture inputs.

Urgent and coordinated action is needed now to break the cycles of food crises and transform food systems to deliver for people and the planet. We know the solutions needed. The G7 must play a critical role in galvanising action to save lives, build resilience and secure the future. The Government of Italy has shown leadership on the issue of food security with the creation of the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative in 2008. This year’s Italian Presidency has the ambition to launch the new Apulia Food Security Initiative while the Brazilian G20 Presidency has announced a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. These initiatives are critical opportunities to get the world back on track and bring an end to the cycle of food crises. Join us for this official parallel session of the Civil 7 Summit.

Session Aim:

• Raise the visibility of the global food crisis at the C7 Summit ahead of the June G7 Leaders Summit

Session Objectives:

• Bring to light the global food crisis with voices from affected countries, including child advocates
• Elevate the policy recommendations of the C7 Food Sovereignty and Food Systems Transformation Working Group to influence the shaping of the G7 food security and nutrition initiative, including the vital role of the Committee on World Food Security
• Champion the idea of a global plan at the G7 and G20 that would improve leadership, coordination and accountability on the global food crisis

Moderator:

• Alice Macdonald, Campaign Director of Hungry for Action

Speakers:

• Musa Sowe, Coordinator of C7 Food Sovereignty and Food Systems Transformation WG
• Vicente Bezerra, Brazil Alternate Representative of Brazil 
• Andrea Galante, Senior Policy Advisor for Food Security and Nutrition, World Vision International 
• Alberta Guerra, CSOs Liaison Officer, GAFSP
• Lucy Esipila, Regional Secretary General, Caritas Africa
• Stephen Ruvuga, Executive Director, MVIWATA